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News last updated: Thu, June 11, 2009 at 2:03 PM ET
June, 2009
The following Amateur Radio Operators became a Silent Key: Ernest Blazer, AA9N, Cindy Sorrell, KC9NCU, and Mike Truax, KB9OCE. Our condolences go out to the families. They will be missed by all.
Please insure that you forward me the information on hams that we lose during a month, so I may pay tribute here and submit them to QST.
RedEye Net Closes
Jimmie, N9VXQ who ran the RedEye Net on the 147.285 repeater in Plymouth on Saturday nights has pulled the plug after 13 years. Not being able to hear the repeater down in Lebanon, IN, Jimmie has decided not to burden other hams with having to run the net and therefore, has decided to end the net.
I would like to thank Jimmie for all the years of service that he did provide running this net and those hams that picked up the net when he was not receiving the repeater.
It seems that more and more ragchew nets are falling apart. Gone are the times when people had things to say that were worth listening to by all. Now most nets are check me in and out. It is shame but I guess we have to blame it on times that we live in and realize that there isn't time in people's lives to sit back and talk for long period.
Summer time is here at last!
We have many antenna projects going on, the contest season is in full swing, and Field Day is not too far off.
We are still waiting to hear just how many contacts were made in the Indiana QSO Party. But like any big contest, it takes time to count all the votes. I am sure as soon as they get it all tabulated we will hear that the number of contacts was very large. Thanks goes out to those involved in the checking of logs and working behind the scenes after the QSO Party is all over.
June is here, are you ready for Field Day?
Hopefully, everyone has a plan and has started collecting all the great food; I mean gear that will be needed for field day 2009.
I hope everyone has a great time and that no mishaps happen at any location.
BPL begins in operating Indiana (See new information below)
From their website at http://www.sciremc.coop/bplpilot.aspx South Central Indiana REMC is working with International Broadband Electric Communications (IBEC) to help provide high-speed Internet access (broadband) to SCI members served by the Martinsville substation. The Martinsville substation serves 1,400 SCI members along 114 miles of line. Members on the Martinsville substation had no access to broadband Internet access prior to our pilot project. The ARRL published a document on the company that is providing REMC with the BPL, here is a segment of that article that explains some of the important information that Hams will be interested in knowing.
"'IBEC's equipment doesn't use the ham bands,' said BPL expert and ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, `making it less likely that they will have any interference complaints from amateurs. Their equipment, however, does interfere with shortwave broadcast and other spectrum, but in the US, not many users have complained. IBM has been in the BPL business for a few years now, so this venture is nothing new for them.' IBEC staff member Brent Zitting, KB4SL, serves as a member of ARRL's EMC Committee."
The information above about BPL starting was sent to me by a member that was apparently concerned for Amateur Radio. I apologize for not researching this topic more and finding out that they started their BPL service 4 years ago. I have found the latest posting on their website (that I could find) showing that in November of 2008 they stated:
"The Board and Management feel that BPL has come a long way in the four years that we have been offering service on the Martinsville Substation, but it still has a way to go before we can offer a good, reliable, high-speed Internet connection to every member of the SCI REMC."
Again, I apologize for not locating this earlier and for alerting members erroneously.
One Man's Opinion
Reprinted here with permission, from author, out of the Sparks June 2009 newsletter.
In all of my many years as a ham radio operator I have seen the best and worst type of operators on our amateur bands. The best often surface in the form of public service and hams assisting in times of natural disasters. Aiding communications in the search for lost children or missing adults plus providing reliable radio communications when all else has failed. We have heard other positive stories of hams lending their communications skills and expertise in cases of forest fires; hurricanes, tornadoes floods. The list goes on...
Because of this dedicated group of individuals we can hold our heads high and be proud of our hobby. This group indeed has added stars to our crown and certainly helps give amateur radio a very positive image.
However, as with all phases of human nature we have those individuals that delight in causing others difficulties in the enjoyment of their hobby. This can come in many forms on the air and I have often wondered what pleasure agitators gain out of this activity.
Some delight in placing unmodulated carriers on established net channels, the logic if any exists, objects to the presence of networks using a frequency others want to use at the same time. In their warped sense of thinking they justify the interference by stating if I cannot use this frequency, then no one else will either. How utterly childish this approach is, sort of reminds me of schoolyard squabbles, totally ridiculous, nothing really accomplished.
Other acts abound on the air - noises, cat calls, whistles, horns, you name it, the agitator will try it, do it, or encourage others to engage in this activity. Let's look at some examples involving repeaters; you have your classic jammer. This person delights in placing carriers on the input of repeaters totally jamming the system. My question is what logical reason would anyone have by deliberately jamming a local repeater?
Perhaps these people resent the presence of a repeater, or a certain group, club, individual responsible for its operation who has offended them in some manner.
Perhaps, they lost a battle for a specified channel, or their radio club lost a bid for a new machine in town. Whatever the reason I would encourage them to abandon their hostilities, petty differences, and mental futility on this activity.
If you tune across the ham bands you have diverse opinions on many subjects, everything from self-proclaimed experts on fixing the country's economic woes, DXing, award hunting, audio quality or antennas. There are those who promote Christian nets and those who do not.
My point is if you do not like what you hear two functions on your radio work very well; the On/Off switch and the VFO. To retaliate in a childish manner, jamming a repeater, using noises, horns, carriers, and anything else that lets you hide in an unidentified manner is childish. Our rules and regulations state plainly about deliberate and malicious interference, you are subjecting yourself to fines, loss of license and maybe even jail time.
Hopefully, we all will do our part to discourage this type of operation and everyone can use the frequencies in peace and harmony.
As always, my friend this is One Man's Opinion,
Bill K4LRX
Official Observer and Technical Specialist Activity
I know for a fact that some of our OO and TSs are busy tracking down individuals just like those mentioned in the above article. With today's Direction Finding equipment it is not hard to locate an individual throwing a carrier on several repeaters. Once these individuals are identified, a report will be file via ARRL HQ to the FCC for action. If you are one of them that is partaking in this activity of ker-chunking repeaters and making weird sounds, I strongly suggest that you quit before you are indentified and reported to the FCC.
ARES Emergency Coordinators
SEC REPORT FOR------------------------------------ JUNE 2007 MAY 2009
NUMBER OF ARES MEMBERS (REPORTED): 580 1135
NUMBER OF DEC/EC REPORTS RECEIVED: 23 58
This is an outstanding accomplishment made during the last two years. The Section Emergency Coordinator wants to get a standardized Emergency Communication training program going this year. I support him 100 percent and hope that you will also. He has been working hard on this and coordinating with Indiana Homeland Security to insure that we are all on the same page when an emergency occurs. We need to be able to display a professional operation, even if they do call us Amateurs.
However, it appears that some are not running an ARES net at least once a month. This is a requirement and also a fact that we can not do our jobs in ARES without some practice. A local net is a great way to provide training to your members, without having to arrange for a classroom.
Tony, W9AL the SEC reports that most of you are running nets and that your reports are looking good. Remember, you must report in each and every month, even if you didn't do anything.
Next month, I will discuss the 2008 SET results, not too many ECs turned in their results.
Hams recognized at Dayton
Two Indiana Amateurs, KB9STR Keith Austermiller and NA9L Vernon Austermiller, visited Gordon West WB6NOA at the Dayton Hamvention and receive Certificates of Achievements for using the Gordon West code tapes to pass their code. You can see a picture of all them on the INARRL.org web site.
Region 9 Cycle 2 net report for April
QNS 13 Net Sessions
QNI 54 Total number of stations checked in
QTC 46 Traffic Handled
QTR 224 Total Time in Session (min.)
Monday WB9YBI -- Wednesday WB9FHP -- Friday NA9L
As you can see there are only 3 net controls, if you would like to pick up the days that are not covered, please email NA9L, Vernon at na9l@att.net . They could use some for the days that are free.
May Public Service Honor Roll Report
PSHR |
|
Net Sessions |
messages |
ARRL Appoint |
public svc events |
unplanned emergency response |
Digital systems |
Total Points |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K9EOH |
PSHR |
40 |
12 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WB9FHP |
PSHR |
37 |
40 |
30 |
20 |
15 |
10 |
152 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W9ILF |
PSHR |
18 |
40 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W9AL |
PSHR |
40 |
16 |
30 |
40 |
0 |
10 |
136 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W9WXN |
PSHR |
14 |
2 |
20 |
0 |
5 |
30 |
71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NA9L |
PSHR |
40 |
40 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
totals |
|
189 |
150 |
150 |
60 |
20 |
50 |
619 |
|
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For an explanation of what this Public Honor Roll is all about go to this website:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/pshr/
73,
John, W3ML
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exclusively with the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility
for errors, omissions, and accuracy of items appearing on this page. All
questions and comments should be directed to the item author.
